ICS User Interfaces
Listed in this helpfile are details of graphical interfaces. Often it is difficult to play chess using the 'ASCII' boards the server generates. They aren't easy to see, and are affected by other information such as shouts.
The graphical ones give you a proper chess board on which to view your pieces, making your chess easier to play.
Here's a summary:
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Graphical Required Computer Operating Interface Location
Interface System and Software Program at ftp.math.uni-
Program Author hamburg.de
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ZIICS # DOS, modem Zek pub/misc/chess/DOS
GIICS DOS, modem LLama pub/misc/chess/DOS
Monarc DOS, modem *Kevster pub/misc/chess/DOS
JIICS DOS, VGA, modem, mouse Peluri pub/misc/chess/DOS
NGIICS DOS, TCP/IP LLama pub/misc/chess/DOS
Raja MS Win3, modem *fischer pub/misc/chess/Win3
Gilchess MS Win3, modem Bloodrake pub/misc/chess/Win3
bludrake MS Win3, modem Bloodrake pub/misc/chess/Win3
SLICS # MS Win3, TCP/IP dfong pub/misc/chess/Win3
Toolkit ## MS Win3, TCP/IP and/or modem MaDHaTteR pub/misc/chess/Win3
WinBoard NT or W95, TCP/IP and/or modem mann pub/misc/chess/Win3
PMICS OS/2, TCP/IP and/or modem woof pub/misc/chess/DOS
XBoard # Unix, X11R4, TCP/IP a/o modem mann pub/misc/chess/X
xics Unix, X11R3 , TCP/IP *observer pub/misc/chess/X
cics TCP/IP and C, ASCII terminal *observer pub/misc/chess/Unix
NeXTICS NeXT, TCP/IP and/or modem red pub/misc/chess/NeXT
MacICS Mac *douglas pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
E-ICS Mac, Modem *douglas pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
MacICS-TCP Mac, TCP/IP eew pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
Aics Amiga *fischer pub/misc/chess/Amiga
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# Recommended and popular.
## Not yet working well on FICS.
* No account on FICS yet.
NB. The handles of the authors may refer to the handles of people at the old
Aics. Certain ones may be different people here or non-existent.
Most interfaces should work, both the authors and the FICS
programmers would like feedback if you have problems with one here.
The listing will explain which interfaces will run on your particular set-up and in which directory to find it. It may have comments from the users/authors of the interfaces to help you choose. If you have any further questions or trouble please contact an admin.
Instructions for getting an interface
Any of the above graphical interfaces can be found at the anonymous ftp site ftp://chess.onenet.net/ (or a mirror, ftp://ftp.math.uni-hamburg.de/). Most come with some instructions.
Pick one, use ftp (help ftp-hints), Netscape or some similar software to access it over the Internet, and transfer it to your local PC system or workstation via your preferred method (zmodem, kermit for most non tcp/ip dialup connections), unpack it (most use standard archival software or are self-extracting), and set it up.
Comments on interfaces
This listing will explain the interfaces in a little more detail with perhaps comments from the users/authors of the interfaces to help you choose.
If you have any further questions or trouble please contact an admin.
PC and compatibles (Using DOS and modem): pub/misc/chess/DOS
ZIICS by Zek: A very popular interface for the PC.
ZIICS requires a regular modem connection and a graphics adapter (VGA, EGA, CGA or Hercules). In VGA there are several styles of sets from 32 pixels per square to 56 pixels per square (almost fills the screen vertically). You can configure the colors and the functions of the buttons by editing a text file. [comment by Zek]
GIICS by LLama
JIICS by Peluri: You will need VGA and a mouse to use this.
Monarc by Kevster
PC and compatibles (Using DOS and TCP/IP): pub/misc/chess/DOS
NGIICS by LLama
PC and compatibles (Using Windows and modem): pub/misc/chess/Win3
Raja (elephant) by fischer
Gilchess by Azorduldu
bludrake by Bloodrake
PC and compatibles (Using Windows and TCP/IP): pub/misc/chess/Win3
SLICS by dfong
Toolkit by MaDHaTteR
PC and compatibles (Using Windows NT(or 95) and TCP/IP): pub/misc/chess/Win3
WinBoard by mann: finger mann for the latest details.
PC and compatibles (OS/2 PM ): pub/misc/chess/DOS
PMICS by woof
Unix (Xwindows): pub/misc/chess/X
XBoard by mann: Certainly the best of the Unix interfaces and still is being supported to work better at FICS. Owners of Unix machines are well advised to get this interface. It is also suitable for use with GNUchess. [comment by DAV] finger mann for the latest details.
xics by observer
Unix (vt100 terminal): pub/misc/chess/Unix
cics by observer
NeXT: pub/misc/chess/NeXT
NeXTICS by red
MAC: pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
MacICS by douglas
MAC (Modem): pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
E-ICS by douglas
MAC (TCP/IP): pub/misc/chess/Macintosh
MacTCP by eew
Amiga: pub/misc/chess/Amiga
Aics by fischer: Might not work with KS2.0 and above.